Chime signal



Jan. 13, 1.942. R. scHwlNzER 2,270,085

GHIME SIGNAL Filed March 13, 1940 ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 13, 1942 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE CHIME SIGNAL Reinhold Schwinzer, Harrison, N. J.Application March 13, 1940, Serial No. 323,660

2 Claims.

This invention relates to signalling devices used to attract theattention of attendants to a caller, as for instance at a door, desk,room or wherever service is to be rendered, in place of the customarycall bell.

Such bells, buzzers or gongs as are commonly used emit a sharp startlingsound, disagreeable to many people, particularly those of a nervoustemperament, and are seldom or never provided with means for adjustmentwhereby the tone maybe modified in accordance withL the volume of soundit is desired to produce.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aclearly audible signal device capable of producing an agreeable, musicalsound upon pressing the usual push button, which may be located remotefrom the sound emitting dev1ce.

A further feature is in the provision of preferably a two-tonemagnetically operated chime signal, pleasant to the ear and effective inits operation.

Another purpose is to produce a simple chime signal in which theintensity of the chime sounds may be increased or diminished at will inaccordance with the volume desired, and which is inexpensive toconstruct.

These valuable objects are accomplished by the novel and practicalconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter describedand illustrated in the accompanying drawing, constituting an importantpart of this disclosure, and in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of an embodiment of the inventionfully assembled, the cover being omitted,

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the same, and

Fig. 3 is a top plan View thereof.

Referring in detail to the drawing, the numeral I5 designates abaseboard or panel of any desired material, generally a rectangle inprofile, which may, if desired, have ornamental marginal edges, and isto be secured in an upright position upon any convenient surface.

Centrally of the panel, near its upper end is a iixed post I6 having areduced outer end I1 on which is freely pivoted a pendulous bar I8, heldin position by a collar I9.

' Secured on the lower portion of the bar I8 is a collar 20, againstwhich abuts a hammer 2l of non-magnetic metal, here shown as a circulardisc, and held to the end of the bar by an armature 22 of iron or othersubstance capable of be- Lil) ing magnetically attracted, the hammerbeing 55 normally positioned substantially central of the panel but outof contact with it.

An electro-magnet of common type, provided with a core 26, is supportedby a bracket 21 reaching outwardly from the panel, the magnet extendingupright in a plane parallel with the normal position of the bar I8 andto one side, in such manner that the core 26, when the magnet isenergized, will attract the armature 22, causing the hammer bar to-swing in that direction. A strap-like narrow rail 28 having a forwardlyreaching arcuate, central portion 29 is disposed in parallel spacedrelation to the panel across its upper part, the rail having angularrearwardly turned bracket portion 30, terminating in feet held bysuitable fastenings to the panel.

The upper edge of the rail is preferably provided with a plurality ofcorrugations 3| along its straight length 28 to adjustably receive thebights of preferably flexible cords 32, their downreaching ends beingengaged in openings 33 and 34 formed in the opposite sides and near theupper ends of resonator tubes 35 and 36. It will be seen that the tubesvary in length whereby .diierent tones are emitted when struck by thehammer 2l and may be of different diameters as well.

The tubes may be metallic, glass or other resonant material, andobviously may be adjusted towards or from the hammer by changing theposition of the cord bights along the rail 28 to vary the volume of thesound.

In operation, when a push-button, not shown, is depressed, an electriccircuit is formed through the magnet 25, its core 26 attracting thependulous hammer 2I, causing it to strike the tube 36 whereby a musicalnote of certain pitch is produced; upon release of the hammer, as byceasing pressure on the push-button, the hammer will rebound and due toits momentum forcibly strike the tube 35, producing a sound of differentpitch, the hammer eventually returning to its pendant positionintermediate the tubes. If the button is continually held depressed fora long time, that is, the circuit held closed for a long period,instantly upon the closing of the circuit, the hammer will be drawn bythe magnet to cause it to strike tube 36, and the hammer will be thendrawn back into a position over the magnet. When the circuit is againopened, no matter how long afterwards, the magnet will be deenergizedand the bar I8 will swing to strike tube 35.

A cover or housing 38 shown in dotted lines may, if desired, be arrangedover the structure and attached in any convenient manner to the panel.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that an essentially simple,inexpensive chime signal has been disclosed, readily regulated for tonalvalues, whereby a combination of musical sounds may be produced uponactuation, and although the foregoing is descriptive of the best knownembodiments of the invention, it will be understood that minor changesand modifications may be made as may fall Within the scope and spirit ofthe appended claims.

Having thus described this invention and set forth the manner of itsconstruction and application, what is claimed as new and sought tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. A chime signal compnsing an upright 'support, a pendulous hammerpivoted on said support to swing in a path parallel thereto, resonantdevices suspended in the path of said hammer, an upright electro-magnetfixed on said support below the hammer with its axis laterally remotefrom the pivot point of the hammer, and means combined with said hammerattractable by said magnet when energized.

2. A signal device, comprising an upright panel, a bar pivotallysuspended from said panel, a hammer of non-magnetic material attached tothe lower end of the bar, an electromagnet supported by the panel andpositioned so that its solenoid is vertical with the upper end thereofbelow the hammer, the axis of the solenoid being spaced from a verticalline through the pivot of the bar, resonating devices supported by thepanel on each side of the bar in positions to be struck by the hammer,and an armature of magnetically attractable material carried by thehammer to cause the hammer to be drawn towards the electromagnet andstrike one of said resonant devices when the electromagnet is energized.

REINHOLD SCHWINZER.

